About

First Presbyterian Church of Littleton (FPCL) is a warm, welcoming and diverse congregation, serving Christ and our community since 1883. A kinship of joy, with friendship and encouragement, FPCL has a rich tradition of spiritual growth through mission, service and Christian Education. FPCL has an experienced, knowledgeable staff of caring professionals that provide a spiritual compass to help you navigate your journey of faith. Housed in an extraordinary historical structure built in 1929, you will find an inviting sanctuary in which to worship and a peaceful place to pray.

Our Vision

We are called to lead the community to a closer relationship with God thru Jesus Christ. More specifically, we have three core values that drive how we live out that vision.

Lovingly Relating: Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We are committed to deep and joyful relationships with each other.

Christ-Following: Jesus continues in John 14:6 by saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We don’t follow a generic God. We follow God as made known to us in the person of Jesus Christ. We are committed to walking ever more closely with Jesus in our daily lives.

Humbly Serving: The last thing Jesus says to his disciples is in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We are committed to being a church that exists for others, not ourselves. We will meet the needs of our local, national, and global communities in a way that honors and points to Christ.

Spiritual Growth at FPCL

We know that every person’s spiritual walk looks very different. Some sprout quickly and some take time. Some people grow closer to Christ by serving the needy, and others are more apt to study Scripture in-depth. With that in mind, we look at Acts 2:42-47 and see in it a picture of spiritual growth that is all-encompassing yet organic and unique for each person. We use the image of a tree to capture the organic nature of our spiritual growth.

The (1) Soil of the tree is Worship with other believers. A lot of your spiritual nutrients come from the soil of regular worship. The (2) Seed of the tree is a Commitment to Jesus Christ. Whenever we’re willing to let Christ influence the direction of our lives, nothing will ever be quite the same again. Once the seed is planted we put down deep (3) Roots of Relationships. Whether it’s a Bible study or quilting, our faith grows deeper when we are somewhere we belong. Out of this foundation we begin to show the (4) Trunk of our tree through Spiritual Practices. The two most important are regularly reflecting on Scripture (not just reading) and praying for guidance. There are plenty of other spiritual practices, but these two make an impact for everyone. We then use our (5) Branches in useful Ministry. From tutoring kids to feeding the hungry to driving around people who can no longer drive themselves, any way we put our faith into action for someone else strengthens our faith. In fact, a tree can’t use the nutrients from the soil without the photosynthesis that comes from the leaves on the branches. In a similar way, serving others catalyzes our faith growth. Finally we take the step of bearing (6) Fruit by Sharing Christ with Others. This can be any spiritual conversation with others who are on their journey of faith. It might be as simple as mentioning to your neighbors that you were serving others this weekend and invite them to join you next time.

As you consider these aspects of spiritual growth, what does your tree look like? Maybe you have a ton of branches but your trunk isn’t well developed. Maybe you have incredible roots and a huge trunk but there’s no fruit yet? Whatever your tree looks like, remember that we all grow at our own pace and in unique ways. Your tree shouldn’t look like anyone else’s, but all of these components should be present for your tree to be whole.

History

On November 4, 1883 a group of eighteen individuals, optimistic about the future of Littleton, organized the Presbyterian Church of Littleton. The Reverend Thomas E. Bliss was called as the first pastor. In the beginning, the new church met in the local school. By 1886, the congregation was growing and needed a larger, more permanent space. They purchased a vacant church building, known as the “Brick Church” at the corner of Curtice and Main Streets in downtown Littleton. (learn more)

Recent Stories

After Victory…Millions Displaced How Did First Pres Littleton Respond? Starting in 1949, First Pres Littleton built “The Friendship House” to help refugees from around the world get settled in the Littleton area. From 1949 to 1979, from Hungarians to H’Mung, ten refugee families were resettled with friendship and love. Carolyn Wilkins was a member of […]